Introducing LocIn: RoukenBio’s novel targeted integration system

Drug discovery depends on the complex process of cell engineering. Our experts work behind the scenes, creating custom cell lines to suit drug developers’ specific research needs. But what if this process could be streamlined – with greater precision, speed, and control in every cell line integration? 

Our Innovation team, led by Dr Timothy London, have been hard at work launching our novel targeted integration system – LocIn.  

What is LocIn? 

Pronounced “loch-in” to echo RoukenBio’s Scottish roots, the system rapidly generates genetically identical isogenic cell lines. It leverages Recombinase Mediated Cassette Exchange (RMCE) for precise control, minimal integration artifacts, and more consistency across experiments. It’s unique targeted integration and selection systems remove the need for the subcloning and analysis of clones, reducing the time and effort required for cell line generation. 

Read more about our expert Cell Engineering capabilities.

What are the benefits of LocIn? 

• Speed: cutting out the time-consuming sub-cloning step makes for faster cell line engineering. 
• Uniformity: using the same integration pattern across all cell lines ensures consistent results every time. 
• Control: reducing integration site artifacts and variability means more reliable results. 
• Flexible platforms: single or multi-platform systems allow for high and low expression needs.  

LocIn can be combined with IndEx-2, our dual inducible cell line platform. IndEx-2 allows the independent titratable expression of two different target antigens within the same cell lines. Using these sister systems would let drug developers investigate the efficacy and safety of therapeutics in cell lines generated with LocIn. 

What implications could LocIn have in drug discovery?

First, is the speed of cell line generation.

Currently, the timeline for generating a clonal overexpression cell line is 3-4 months. LocIn could shorten this by around 6 weeks. LocIn has accelerated generation of a clone in the CHO-K1 background, and the team hopes to replicate similar success in other cell backgrounds. 

Additionally, its targeted integration allows for the same integration across the cells. This would be useful for example for customers testing their molecule on the same receptor from different species. 

Essentially, LocIn allows for more efficient cell line generation for use in drug discovery, and we look forward to launching this service for our customers. 

Learn more about LocIn from its inventors – read our interview with RoukenBio’s Innovation team.